Islands of Adventure, one day, either Monday 1/21/13 or Tuesday 1/22/13 RIP Amity JAWS Do both parks

It was three days before Christmas and I still had baking to do, gift making and wrapping to finish, miami south beach daily vacation rentals and the lights on the front of the house kept blinking out. But what are the holidays if not busy, so I forgot about everything and my family headed out to Disney Hollywood Studios to see THE LIGHTS!
miami south beach daily vacation rentals Of course I m referring to the must-see yearly display of the Osborne Family Spectacle miami south beach daily vacation rentals of Dancing Lights, on display through January 6, 2013. Some history: In 1986, Arkansas residents Jennings and Mitzi Osborne's daughter Allison asked her parents to decorate their home with Christmas lights. They started out like most of us do with a few strings of colored lights and a couple decorations. By 1993 the display had grown to over 3,000,000 bulbs, which actually became a distraction for their neighbors. Legal issues ensued so by 1995 the display was shut done completely by the Arkansas Supreme Court. This is where Disney stepped in, and it was agreed to transport the spectacle to Disney-MGM Studios (the original name of Disney s Hollywood Studios). A new Disney holiday tradition was born, thanks to the Osborne family.
Crowds are usually heavy so don't go if you are in a hurry. miami south beach daily vacation rentals This is the one place I'm not upset by park guests stopping dead in front of me – I'm probably doing the same. When the music starts and the lights begin their ballet, people of all ages stop and turn 360 degrees to see what is happening miami south beach daily vacation rentals around them! Carousels, angels and a Nativity high in the air, not to mention everything on the Streets of America is covered with lights. Get out your camera. The colors and the way the thousands of light strings are coordinated to the accompanying soundtracks are mesmerizing. There are all kinds of decorations, some really unusual. Keep a look out for them in windows, on sidewalks and in doorways.
This year the crowd was literally miami south beach daily vacation rentals herded around to the back near Lights, Motors, miami south beach daily vacation rentals Action! Extreme Stunt Show to enter. There are carts selling snacks and drinks but there are few places to sit. Still, the synchronized light display is a treat to both the eyes and ears, not to mention the heart. I love the fake snow (soap bubbles – I've tasted them accidentally) and so do the kids who have never seen the stuff. miami south beach daily vacation rentals And it was about 40 degrees the night we went, so the snow was appropriate. Standing underneath the expanded canopy (which used to be in the Osborne's drive) miami south beach daily vacation rentals while the songs fill the air, the movement is just hypnotic. Our granddaughter Lily hasn't been there since she was a toddler, so the effects fascinated her.
It's hard to describe miami south beach daily vacation rentals the beauty the light show. It's as if there are fireworks going off all around you but without the booms and the danger. Over the years the lights have been improved to energy efficient LEDs and even more decorated items have been added. People are dancing and singing and everyone seems to enjoy the company of those around them.
The night we visited, we got to witness something that doesn t happen quite every night – a guy asked his girl to marry him while having their photo taken by a Disney photographer! Really romantic, surrounded by all those colors, and the crowd offered miami south beach daily vacation rentals applause and congratulations to the happy couple.
A new arrangement of Winter Wonderland was added to all the other songs we've enjoyed over the years; among them are Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, Feliz Navidad and a personal favorite of mine, Barbra Streisand's Jingle Bells .
Santa Goofy is usually greeting visitors during the nightly light performances, miami south beach daily vacation rentals but we didn't see him – the crowd was just so heavy.  However, Phineas and Ferb were there to have their pictures taken with visitors. Even Agent P popped up to say hello, a favorite of Lily's.
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debi is a retired school support person, mother and grandmother who still loves riding roller miami south beach daily vacation rentals coasters. Living on Florida's West Coast, she has been an Annual Passholder at Universal Orlando for 14 years along with her husband and disabled daughter. She is also a 31-year veteran of local craft/art shows, making and selling Christmas ornaments, polymer clay jewelry and quilts.
Arriving to Universal Orlando late in the evening what should we do at Islands of Adventure? Where can I meet Santa at Universal Orlando? Better for kids, Margaritaville or Latin Quarter at Universal CityWalk? Best way to get from Universal Orlando to Premium Outlets? What are the Premier / Preferred miami south beach daily vacation rentals Passholder benefits for the 2012 holidays at Universal Orlando?
miami south beach daily vacation rentals Islands of Adventure, one day, either Monday 1/21/13 or Tuesday 1/22/13 RIP Amity JAWS Do both parks have Early Park Admission? Blue man group student discount, how do I know how busy it is? 3.5 day plan for mid-January: several questions?
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Dan is a former Universal team member, student at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Mgmt, and the OI guy who works 60+ hours each week to bring you the very best Universal Orlando vacation planning information. Originally from St. Paul, MN, Dan lives in Ocoee, FL (on the edge of Orlando) with his wife Rosie and their daughter Noa.
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